U.S. Ups Pakistan Flood Aid to $150 Million

Italian fans smile prior to the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and Croatia in Poznan, Poland, Thursday, June 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) / Antonio Calanni

The United States will increase its aid to flood-ravaged Pakistan to $150 million, U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Thursday, stressing that Washington did not want Islamist extremism to increase on the back of the crisis.

The floods have affected 20 million people and about one-fifth of Pakistan's territory, straining its civilian government as it struggles against al Qaeda and Taliban violence. Aid groups and the United Nations have complained foreign donors have not been quick or generous enough given the scale of the disaster.

The United States has deployed 18 Army helicopters to hard-hit areas and given other aid worth $90 million.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, who is visiting Pakistan to see the flood damage, said that would increase to $150 million. The figure is expected to be announced at a U.N. general assembly meeting in New York on Thursday.

Many need help now, but unlike in previous disasters, relief for Pakistan has been much slower to come, reports CBS News Correspondent Richard Roth.

"Although governments have been coming forward with increasing generosity, the public response has not been the immediate outpouring of generosity that we've seen for Haiti and the tsunami five years ago," the U.N. Under Secretary John Holmes said.

"Donor Fatigue" Miring Pakistan Flood Recovery?

Saudi Arabia said it would donate $80 million to Pakistan, the official Saudi Press Agency reported, making it one of the largest donors. The country has for years sought to project its influence in Pakistan and has funded the spread of hardline Islamic theology there.

Pakistan is vital for America's strategic goals of defeating militancy and stabilizing neighboring Afghanistan so its troops can one day withdraw. Washington has already committed to spending $7.5 billion over the next five years in Pakistan.

Recovering from the floods is likely to dominate the agenda of Pakistan's army and government in coming months.

The state has been criticized for failing to respond quickly enough, and Islamist charities - at least one of which has alleged links to terrorism - have been active in the flood-hit areas. There are also concerns the extent of the suffering could stoke social unrest and lead to political instability that may impact Pakistan's fight against the Taliban.

Kerry told reporters "we don't want additional jihadists, extremists coming out of a crisis."

He was speaking after meeting U.S. military personnel taking part in helicopter relief missions.

The floods began in the northwest of the country after exceptionally heavy monsoon rains and have since swamped thousands of towns and villages in Punjab and Sindh provinces. While rainfalls have lessened, flooding is continuing in parts of Sindh province as water from the north courses down the Indus and other rivers.

Local aid groups, the Pakistani army and international aid agencies have helped hundreds of thousands of people with food, shelter, water and medical care, but the distribution has been chaotic and has not come close to reaching everyone.

Officials said that the ancient ruined city and world heritage site Mohenjo Daro in the Larkana district was now at risk. "Our experts are also present at Mohenjo Daro to monitor the flood situation," said government archeologists Qasim Ali.

Mohenjo Daro's structures are mostly made of unbaked brick and are vulnerable to flood damage.

More Pakistan Coverage

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Photos: Pakistan's Youngest Flood Victims
Photos: Pakistan's Deadly Floods
Pakistan Floods Could Sweep Away Weak Gov't?
Pakistan Towns Cut off from Aid
U.N. Chief: Pakistan Floods the Worst I've Seen
Cholera Hits Pakistan Flood Victims
Pakistan Floods Fail to Spark Strong Global Aid
Pakistan Floods May Give Taliban Time to Regroup
Pakistani Flood Victims Fast, Ramadan or Not

[Tess_Comments]

I understand it is the humanitarian thing to do. Fine, good, it is probably necessary to assist Pakistan.

The floods began July 29, 2010 in Pakistan and by August 20, 2010 the US can increase aid to $150M.

The Arizona Bill was signed in April 2010. Instead of issuing aid or enforcing current US Immigration Laws the current Administration Sues Arizona for wanting to protect its borders. Finally, in August 2010 the President grudgingly signed a bill to improve security at this country's border (US) with Mexico.

The extra $60M could have been used to create some much needed jobs in the US. It could have been used to hire more people to help enforce the current US Immigration Laws.

[cyclingpete]

Boxes and boxes of condoms should be delivered with the SPAM and grain. Perfect example of over population of this world. These natural disastures are natures way of controling over populated countries that can not feed themselves. Common sense people....no food..poverty..STOP MAKING BABIES!!!!!!

[rickwarre]

America: Rapidly becoming the "It's all about me" country, based on the current set of comments.

Sometimes a little goodwill and empathy buys more than any military operation can.

As to the being "broke", 200 mil a day in Iraq and counting: http://costofwar.com/

[fedup12]

So if 10-50% of the 150 large make it into terrorists hands only 50-90% will actually help the flood victims.

Better than some odds here in America!

[falconco]

Hillary pledged 10 billion when she recently visited Pakistan. I believe it was for water projects, etc., but undoubtedly it will not be used for its intended purposes, and corrupt individuals will benefit. The same will happen with the aid that Kerry is promising.

[longtree-2009]

bailouts and more bailouts. kerry and his fellow democrats just give money away like they are printing it on their personal copier in the back room. never believed those that said democrats are into spending, spending, and more spending until now. trillions in national debt, thousands foreclosed, thousands jobless, Social Security is in the red, medicare has about 12 more years of funding, taxes and fees are being raised at the city, county, state levels on u.s. citizens who are a breath away from being financially devastated if not already financially devastated. the usa is not, should not be, responsible for the poverty the world over in any nation state with a ruling government. the usa is not the world's police force or the world's ruling government. as for the taliban, they should have been nuked if they refused to surrender bin laden within 24 hours. there will always be those that hate the usa, whether in poverty or not.

[wyodutch]

Americans... the dumbest people on the face of the earth.
.
We're nationally and privately flat, busted broke. We shipped our manufacturing base to Mesico and red china. Nearly ten percent of us are on the soup lines and our half-witted government robs us of another $150,000,000 and ships it to Pakistan.
.
Why am I surprixed... we're already spending $3,000,000,000 a WEEK to force democracy on two nations that want nothing to do with it.

[newsterI]

Exactly right, there goes another $150 million of borrowed money, and make no mistake, this is only the first INSTALLMENT! you watch and see, in the coming weeks we'll read about ANOTHER, and ANOTHER sent.

"The last thing we want is further destabilization of Pakistan, which of course has nuclear weapons."

Who gives a flying fart what they do over there!! a little nuke would greatly help reduce their squalling overpopulation problem.

[jjoe57]

I would not gainstay Sen Kerry's argument about the necessity for U.S. flood relief aid to Pakistan. The Pakistani government's inadequate response is already creating civil unrest. Islamic extremism breeds on civil strife and discontent among the populace. The last thing we want is further destabilization of Pakistan, which of course has nuclear weapons.

[curse914]

Precisely.

It was Pakistani orphans of war who filled the ranks of the Taliban, but I do not expect the willfully ignorant to know or understand that.